Rental Ryan Leaves Town, Doesn’t Cry
July 3rd, 2007 by murph
The Ryan Smyth era is over in Long Island. Unlike in Edmonton, there was no press conference and no tearful goodbye from Smyth this time. Instead it is us, loyal Islanders fans who are left crying over prospects and draft picks we traded away for Smyth, and our other UFA’s we neglected to sign because we thought we could sign Smyth.
Snow and Wang bet the house on #94 but the wheel came up double-zeros. Jim Baumbach at Newsday.com sums it up nicely.
You can give the Islanders credit for acting boldly and aggressively at the trade deadline. They traded for the best player available in the hopes of (a) a long playoff run, and/or (b) convincing Ryan Smyth to sign a long-term contract.
But if you’re going to put the future of your franchise on the line for such a move, you need to be certain that one of those things is going to happen. Of course neither did, putting yet another forgettable chapter in the Islanders history books.
Do you hear that sound in the distance? I think that’s laughter coming from Alexei Yashin’s Old Westbury estate.
The Islanders decision-makers must have woken up this morning in serious damage-control mode. The player they so desperately wanted to build around – Smyth – spurned them, big-time. He was en route to Denver this morning, around the same time the Islanders were probably scratching their heads.
So the Islanders have nothing to show for the two prospects, Robert Nilsson and Ryan O’Marra, and the 2007 first-round selection that they sent to Edmonton for Smyth. That’s a steep price to pay for what proved to be a rental player.
Of couse, there was an actual press conference yesterday, except it was in Colorado, where everyone was all smiles. Smyth even put on a good show and said all the right things about the Islanders organization when asked…without crying.
Question: Ryan, the sacrifices the Islanders made to get you, did you feel any duty or loyalty to them based on the chances they took to acquire you?
Smyth: That’s a great question because what they gave up at the trade deadline to acquire me. Right from the get-go, they treated us with a great deal of respect. They gave us every opportunity to want to come back there. I have a great deal of respect for that organization. I think for what went on at the start of the year, with Garth Snow taking over and Teddy Nolan head coach, they just treated us well. Yeah, it played a little bit of a role. They were right there to the bitter end. We were back-and-forth with a few different teams and obviously Colorado. I hope nothing but the best for them. They have a bright future of young players in their organization. I really do thank them for what they did.
Don’t feel so bad buddy, at least you got 2 prospects and a draft pick out of the deal.
This is it. The last time I mention Ryan Smyth until he returns to the Coliseum in an Avalanche jersey and we boo him every time he touches the puck.
Patrick Says
Oh man! I can only imagine how loud the boos will be when he returns to Long Island.
Jul 3rd, 2007 at 5:35 pm
Kevin Says
When is our next game against the Avalanche, and is Dale Hunter available?
Jul 3rd, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Derek Says
Why would Smyth get booed? He didn’t trade away prospects and picks for a rental player. He played on the Island for a few months, and was the best player in orange and blue most nights. I don’t, and will never, blame Smyth. I knew that the chances of him signing with the Isles were slim. It’s not like he signed a 10 year deal and then never needed to shower after games. This is a huge sign that the Islanders are in deep, deep doo-doo. Players don’t want to play on the Island, and I don’t believe it has anything to do with the building. It has more to do with the lack of structure in the front office and poor management. Players want to play where they can succeed and have a shot at winning a Stanley Cup. It’s 1972 all over again. The Isles have to build through the draft and those are the players that will have some sense of loyalty to the franchise. Management has to have a game plan and stick to it. Taking huge risks on rental players may get you into the playoffs, but what good does that do the Islanders now???????????
Jul 3rd, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Steven CC Says
Of course one should blame Smyth. He knew how much the team spent in the trade, and he also knew he had no intention of coming back to the Isles. We didn’t lose the bidding war, he left for less money than we were offering.
He could have given Snow a heads up, so that we could have traded his rights for something before July 1 rolled around. But he strung us along, and then left us out to dry.
But I agree with your criticism of management. I still have confidence in Ted Nolan, but that’s about it.
Jul 3rd, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Patrick Says
Smyth knew he was screwing us when he left. He cried when he left Canada but smiled when he left Long Island. For that, I boo the bastard. He doesn’t like us so I don’t like him. Simple.
Jul 3rd, 2007 at 10:30 pm
Derek Says
Boo if you want. When does Colorado come to Long Island next? 2010? Anyway, Smyth cried when he left Edmonton because it’s his hometown, he was an Oilers stickboy growing up, he had played for them his whole career and wanted to retire an Oiler. Why would he cry leaving Long Island? From what I’ve heard, the Isles were in the running right until the end, but because they put all their eggs in one basket, we got screwed. The rumour is that Smyth was waiting to see if the Isles would sign players to help him win here, and they didn’t, so he left. I think there’s more boo-hooing here than booing. Who was the last player to cry leaving the Islanders anyway…tick-tock-tick-tock…
Teddy Nolan is all we’ve got. I have no doubt that he will get the most out of the players on this team, but will that be enough? I look forward to seeing the young guys develop. There’s nowhere to go but up. If the Isles are rebuilding for the future, I wish they’d just say it. Tell us there’s a 5 year plan - something. “Patience” just doesn’t cut it. I appreciate Bossy’s comments, but throw us a bone.
Jul 4th, 2007 at 10:27 am
Patrick Says
Derek, I hear what you’re saying. I agree but some of the blame is on Smyth. He knows what we put on the line to get him. He knows what we gave up for him. I think that we showed him how much we wanted him when we put all our eggs in one basket. He should have been impressed with that. He shouldn’t have left our team the way he did. By taking less money to play on another team he gave a big F-You to Long Island. He should be booed.
And yes, the Islanders management should be booed as well. I’ll be sure to do that when they take the ice.
Jul 4th, 2007 at 11:02 am
Derek Says
WOW! We got Ruslan Fedotenko! That should stop the bleeding.
Jul 4th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
B Says
Not sure what side of the fence I’m on here, but I’m not sure that taking less money should be a factor… if he would have taken more money, everyone would be all over his case for following the dollars. I think its obvious that he wants to play for an organization that has a shot at winning something and he’s not going to get that on the Island (although Colorado shouldn’t be the first choice, it still has some semblance of a desire to win and a competent front office). Do you disagree with him about that?
Jul 5th, 2007 at 10:23 am
Jimmy C Says
Let’s face it. We are Stanley cup junkies. 4 awesome years followed by some very, very lean years makes you hungry. I’m not going to fume about how we got screwed with cryin Ryan. He did his job. Play solid hockey until you can re-up or leave. He chose to leave. Same with the others. I’m not so said to see Zednik leave. I’ve seen shadows play better than he did last year. Sofar the worst of problems is that the team may suck this season. Wang isn’t moving or selling the team, yet. The Kansas City or Houston Islanders just sounds wrong. And if the hockey god does decide to put on his or her Islanders jersey again, I ask only two thing. That the Isles sweep Colorado in 4 and that one of our d-men teach cryin-flyin-lying Ryan how to eat the dashers.
Jul 5th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Patrick Says
Nice Jimmy C!!!! I like that!!!
Jul 5th, 2007 at 4:32 pm